Skye Morden

Skye Morden’s journey is nothing short of inspirational, encapsulating the resilience and courage it takes to embrace one’s true self amidst a profession often marked by rigid traditionalism. For nearly two decades, she harboured her truth, serving with distinction in the West Midlands Police. Her eventual coming out established her as one of the UK’s pioneering transgender police officers. Skye’s experience, particularly her ‘swimming through a sea of hate’ due to an avalanche of online abuse, highlights the profound challenges faced by transgender individuals today. Yet, it was within this storm that she found a lifeline in the police LGBTQ network, an experience she eagerly shares with her audience to underscore the importance of community and support systems in fostering resilience and courage.

Addressing her audiences, Skye Morden delves deeply into her personal life, recounting the internal conflict that spanned years before she could align her external life with her internal truth. At 46, after an unrelated separation from her wife, she came out as transgender—a revelation that she’d long felt the gender assigned to her at birth was incorrect. In her speeches, she emphasises the complexity of navigating professional and personal landscapes as a transgender woman, providing a raw and honest look into a life lived in the shadows before embracing her authentic self. This narrative is not just her own but echoes the struggles within the larger LGBTQ+ community, making her story relatable and profoundly impactful.

Despite the adversities, Skye talks passionately about her career in law enforcement, referring to it as the ‘best job in the world’. Her role as a Taser trainer at the Midlands Region Tactical Training Centre in Albrighton comes alive in her presentations as she relates tales of courage, fear, and making a tangible difference in people’s lives. She uses these experiences to inspire her listeners, illustrating that personal battles and professional duties are not mutually exclusive. Instead, she champions the idea that embracing one’s identity can act as a cornerstone for showing up more authentically and effectively in all facets of life.

Furthermore, Skye is not sharing her story for empathy; she’s actively paving the way for change within the force. Her work with the Force’s LGBTQ committee and the West Midlands Police Federation aims to foster a more inclusive work environment, especially for transgender officers. By being openly visible, she reinforces to her colleagues and audiences that trans people are simply human. Her message extends beyond mere acceptance, advocating for active representation and cultural change in line with Sir Robert Peel’s principle of community policing. For the LGBTQ+ community, especially those considering a law enforcement career, Skye’s visibility is a beacon of hope and a testament to progressing inclusivity and diversity within the police force.